Tennessee Titans: Marcus Mariota posted elite passer rating in Week 1
By Vance Ellis
Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota had a top five passer rating in Week 1.
Marcus Mariota and the Tennessee Titans put on a show in their Week 1 opener versus the Cleveland Browns. The Titans beat the Browns 43-13, and one major reason for the decisive victory was the arm of Mariota.
Coming into the season, many questioned the ability of Mariota at quarterback. They wondered if he could be the franchise talent he was drafted to be.
Well, he definitely made a good case this past Sunday. Mariota came out firing against Cleveland’s defense, posting an impressive 133.3 passer rating. This would rank top five in the NFL for Week 1 among all quarterbacks who qualified (minimum of 14 attempts), per ESPN.com.
Mariota posted a higher passer rating than guys like Phillip Rivers, Carson Wentz, Drew Brees and Tom Brady. Those are some pretty big names to have a higher rating than.
So, how was Mariota able to top such names and put up great numbers?
Playing smart football and an incredible second half surely helped his case. The Oregon product was an impressive 6-of-6 with 140 yards and 3 touchdowns in the second half against the Browns. He finished 14-of-24 for 248 yards, and those three scores.
Not a performance many would expect out of Mariota, especially after finishing the first half 8-for-16 with 108 yards and no touchdowns. The former No. 2 overall pick came out in the second half playing very smart football, utilizing some of his key playmakers in Delanie Walker and Derrick Henry.
Mariota’s play and this start is crucial to this season, not only for himself but the team as well. Mariota is in a contract year with many questions around his ability to lead the Titans. Every start, snap, and game are going to be crucial in helping the Titans decide if Mariota is their guy going forward or not.
The team, on the other hand, has a real shot this year at the playoffs and a division title. Head coach Mike Vrabel and general manager Jon Robinson have built one of the meanest defenses in the league, while having an offense with some impressive weapons.
The team’s biggest downfall last season was the quarterback play. It is now Marcus Mariota’s job to show that he has what it takes to be a franchise quarterback and that this performance in Week 1 wasn’t a fluke.